The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1887-09-01
81 PELO AND BLACKBEAKD.
"A Graphic Description of IA NcritaDle
Huntsmiln's Paradise.
lFrom lho nnricn. Ca , GnzottoN

Huntsman's Paradise.
From the Daricn, Ga Gazottc.)
mo island of Sapelo, lying just with
out tho mouth Of the Altamaha
tlvor, on tho Georgia coast, is
certainly one of the most beautiful in
the Whole coast chain Of islands from the
bay of tho Chesapeake to the Florida
capes. 1t occupation and settlement by
the French nobility date back to that Of
st. Augustine. The lineal descendants
arc still i'll Cirect possession of the island
and its oral history. An old fort ut it's
outer extromity, the ruins Of which are
still conspicuous, bears witness to tho
character and precautionary and fore
sight of its first settlers. Twelve miles
IN length by three in width, it reachcs s
along the coast. 4 narrow arm OF the
sen divides it on the north from Georgia
main, while its southern shore stretches
away for miles, a snowy expanse of
wevC-waShCd sand-uneQualod this, by
any frcqucnted beach along tho south
ern coast save that at Fcrnandina, in
| extent. Here most beautiful picture
presents itself. On the one hand, the
broad Atlantic, sweeping far out to meet
the sky; Oh the other, huge 1.-Two oui
trees, gray with age and hanging moss
many giant among them stands, whose
arms, outStrctchCd low, marks Il circum-
terence of two hundred feet and more
between them, as il to guard against
their nearer approach, lies the glistening
band of sand. Here the 'league-long
roller laundering on tho beach, and the
''moVing whisper of huge trees" is mover
ending. Here the deep sen turtle comes
to deposit her eggs, and here, then,
there is rare sport for the vigilant on the
dark of the moon. Tho diamond-bacll
tarrapln Is here, and to be had for tic
catching-lesS than with Dolmonico, ut
sixteen dollars dozen.
Beyond, close III, but separated by q
narrow channel, lies Blackboard. This
island deserves moro than passing men
ton. Once the rendezvous of Black
beard, the pirate, Ca contemporary OF
NoDCrt Nidd), here he is supposed ~
have buried his iil-g0tten booty, and
mere, even hero, the dcludGG treasure
seekers have hCrn with pick and spade;
their row9ri WAS as empty as the holes
they dug,
This island has been the property Of
the government for some years ,}ust, and
III the time OF wooden naval Ships wao
considered especially valuable for its
live oak, groves Of which extend
| throughout It's length on sandy ridges
running through IT, once frrcly sand
bars OF tho ocean. Shallow lugoons
have formed between these ridges, ald
| here at night fall, ducks, in season, and
ocean fowl OF every description, gather
! to rest on the sheltered waters. Here
also Is the home and retreat Of the SCR
island deer: here among the ''slw" pa
mettoG3 and along these ridges, close with
green brlcrs and hanging vines, almost
l1upenoSrabto, tlcy r"Nr their youuH
The quarantine sutton for ships eutci
ing Doboy is on this island. But to re-
turn.
Sapolo Light, on the island shore, on-
pOSltC DObOy, guards the entrance 10
this, the port of Duricu Ships Of oil
bearing away with them tho famous
Georgia yellow pine to all parts OF the
| world. COaStwisc vessels arr also here
Ill numbers, particularly three n4nstcd
| schOoncr%, the IHat OF their race, and
| happily, the most gyucolul cCmmurciu
crafts ntioat; models of symm&try, fit
ting testimonials TO the now idle, but
lnlmltablc skill of the American shiu-
builder
The lntc IOr OF Sapclo presents one
immense plantation intcrSperacd with
lVo oak groves and palmetto brakes, an,
broken 1T regular intervals by broad
avenues and sideways, lined with tail
IoWland pine or live oak trees. They
alone remain to break the samcncss Gf
the plain and lend Il pleasing granacur
to the scene; they tell Of th" plantation
life once here. \ crumblmg wall o.
'tabby" grown about With roses, marx
tho spot where once was the ''momorial
hall, while around ami about all is tha
pine forest. Once pcOplcd and cultivated
by eleven hundred slaves, its rich, dark
soil yielded untold wealth in sea islul,d
cotton, and all of the cOarscr products
necessary to life and living in nbund-
anco. Almost deserted these years past,
it has turned back upon itself and re-
lapscd into sohmde-an island park.
pcoplcd no longer by mon, hut with will
game. Both sea island and mainlaLd
deer abound.
Sapolo is tho stepping-stonc between
Blackboard and the man for the ever
migrating deer. In the winter Of 1883 L
party OF six OF us, With eleven dogs.
after three days hunt, brought ~
| seven fine deer; and here let me adj,
that during four nights out, we all slept
by the camp fire Without covering of
any sort-thiB of itself speaks well for
| the mlldnCSS OF the winter season. \
| deserted plantation is tho natural home
for quail; here they gather in great
! numbers The "ric0 bird Of the Caro-
llna8" IS at Eand i'll tho rlcciiclds around
| DarIcu, while the challenge Of the WI,l
| turkey echoes unhccdcd through tho
river swamps bordering the Altamahn--
next to deer, the kCcn@at shooting South.